What is Community Safety?
In each local council area, there are statutory partnerships called Community Safety Partnerships (CSP's). They bring together local organisations with the shared goals of reducing crime and the fear of crime, anti-social behaviour, alcohol and drug misuse and reducing reoffending. CSPs work on the principle that no single agency can address all drivers of crime and antisocial behaviour, and that effective partnership working is vital to ensuring safer communities.
Community Safety Partnerships were introduced in each local authority area by Section 6 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and in B&NES, the BCSSP provides both the strategic direction for community safety and local delivery of community safety outcomes.
The responsible authorities that make up the Community Safety Partnership are the:
- police
- fire and rescue service
- local authorities
- health partners
- probation
The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, introduced a responsibility for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) and responsible authorities in Community Safety Partnerships to act in cooperation with each other in exercising their respective functions. The Community Safety Partnership co-ordinates key services to the local area, working to solve local problems, which also contribute to the delivery of the Police and Crime Plan.
More information about Community Safety in B&NES can be found in the Joint Community Safety Plan.
Governance
The B&NES CSP is one of the tri-parts of the BCSSP Strategic Board. The Board provides executive and strategic leadership for the partnership and are responsible for ensuring CSP compliance with statutory duties.
The oversight and delivery of the CSP priorities is through the Community Safety Delivery Group.
The governance of the B&NES CSP is reflected in the BCSSP structure.